I had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago for stage IV endometriosis. I should have done it much earlier! So nice to be rid of the pain, blood loss, and headaches.

I had a hysterectomy in February, and while the surgery was no fun, my awesome doctor gave me pictures. And, since I was home for two weeks and had plenty of painkillers, I quit coffee.

I guess that is the first part of my update - Still living just outside of DC, at the same University, but with the top job and all the headaches of budget cuts, etc., but with a Dean who seems to totally appreciate me and the problems. Some days I would love to leave, others NSM. The DH is still trying to rid the world of weapons, so we have been able to travel once or twice a year and our 7 year old has been to 9 countries, which is a very, very different childhood than either of us had. We love our little town, and we started hosting a pot luck on the First Friday of every month for the families with kids at the bus stop that has expanded to many more -- and which people now volunteer to host themselves.

The 7 year old is in 2nd grade, loves math, her horseback riding lessons, having sleepovers, reading, and bugging her cousin hippocampus to put her in a book.

Have you considered laproscopy? I had fibroids removed that way and my oh so tactful doctor* said "you know, you're 38 and unmarried, it would be easier to just do a hysterectomy". Point being that the fibroid removal was very easy. I felt fine in 3-4 days.

We don't think it's just the fibroids. I've always tended to heavy and sometimes painful periods without any apparent underlying cause (and believe me, given my tendency to health paranoia, I made sure to get thoroughly tested), and it's gotten worse the last few years. What it finally came down to is that I'm 45, am completely sure I don't want more biological children even if my blood pressure issues didn't make it hella high risk, and for all we know natural menopause is another 5-10 years away for me, so let's get this done so my life will no longer feel like it's being ruled by unpredictable bleeding spells.

(Though I'm sure if the fibroids were larger and seemed more likely to be the main root cause of my issues, my doctor would've recommended that route. She's been my gyn for about five years now, and I trust her judgment.)

I had a hysterectomy in February, and while the surgery was no fun, my awesome doctor gave me pictures. And, since I was home for two weeks and had plenty of painkillers, I quit coffee.

If you don't mind my asking, how painful was the recovery process? Like, am I being too optimistic when I think, "Two weeks off work where I have to take it easy! Time to catch up on my reading and binge-watch some of the shows I've missed over the past 10 years or so!"

The DH is still trying to rid the world of weapons, so we have been able to travel once or twice a year and our 7 year old has been to 9 countries, which is a very, very different childhood than either of us had. We love our little town, and we started hosting a pot luck on the First Friday of every month for the families with kids at the bus stop that has expanded to many more -- and which people now volunteer to host themselves.

This all sounds so lovely!

how painful was the recovery process?

I had a laproscopic procedure, and it was uncomfortable more than painful. I only took Advil for pain. Certainly, after the first few days were I wasn't walking except around the house, recovery went pretty quickly. After two weeks of being at home (and I did take it easy, watch all the TV, and read all the books) I was still not perfect, but only went home early from work a few days, and sometimes asked to sit while I was standing to talk to someone.

The worst parts for me were the immediate recovery because I don't tolerate anesthesia well, and was pretty sick for 12-24 hours post surgery (but we knew this going in, so I was resigned), and the post-surgery antibiotics didn't go down easy.

You are definitely not being optimistic.

My favorite part was not so much walking by the feminine products, but realizing I never had to have another pap smear.

Nilly!!! Fay!!! And hi bennett!

I am not a member of the HysterSisters, but did get a tubal ligation. My migraines were getting worse and no meds were helping, and I couldn't afford to be out of commission for days, so I did a 6-month long experiment in human subject research and discovered that if I'm not on the pill I don't get migraines, and that I hate condoms.

Life since has been GREAT. I am still thrilled with the lack of migraines. Of course, although I told the nurses et al about my surgical glue allergy, the doc used surgical glue.

I had a laproscopic procedure, and it was uncomfortable more than painful. I only took Advil for pain. Certainly, after the first few days were I wasn't walking except around the house, recovery went pretty quickly. After two weeks of being at home (and I did take it easy, watch all the TV, and read all the books) I was still not perfect, but only went home early from work a few days, and sometimes asked to sit while I was standing to talk to someone.

Thanks!

I am starting to loose track of all the people who have posted. Fay, it is always good to see you, here or on Facebook.

Nilly, Raq, Bennett, Sparky - it's good to hear from you.

Susan, I hope your hystrectomy goes well.

I guess I should chime in! I used to be javachik here (as I have been javachik since 1993 on teh interwebs) but got tired of getting mixed up with java cat. So, nanita it is, but it kind of weirds me out. I don't want to come up with another fake name though.

I still read the natter and spike's threads but hardly ever post because I am usually reading on iPhone or iPad and I cannot deal with how terrible the interface is for posting. I have started to respond SO many times but end up just deleting because it's too hard.

I moved to Oakland, CA in 2009 and rented a house for a couple of years that I was lucky enough to buy in 2011. Since then my time has been spent with non-stop renovations that are finally DONE. And now I never want to move. For those of you who've been to my little cottage in my cute little neighborhood, you understand why. I'm surrounded by friendly neighbors who are diverse, funny, helpful, supportive and pretty awesome all-around. Whenever Sarameg talks about how much she loves B'more and her hood, it's like we're living parallel lives on separate coasts.

I've been working at a mid-sized biotech since 2012 that I basically HATED from summer of 2015 to May of this year. Since then there have been a lot of changes, and I am happier. I have a team of 6 people that will soon be 8, across US and EU, and they're entirely fabulous (they're the main reason I did not quit when I was so unhappy). My team has taken on the responsibility of day-to-day global operations and now I am taking on the company-wide project of RIM and IDMP (Google it if you're curious, but it has to do with aligning disparate systems and reporting aggregation).

I still travel but thankfully not as much - I feel myself more and more wanting to just be an Oakland hermit but I fight the urge because the outcome will be isolation and I don't want that.

On the pet front, the Wigglebutts Chile Pepper (14.5) and Cayenne (8!) continue to entertain me, and Romeo the Porch Cat whom I inherited with the house, continues to be chill and bitey (when he's happy). And those who are on Facebook with me know the story of kitten Paint who jumped into my car a couple of weeks ago and now lives happily with my dear friend (and ex-housemate) Charlie in his Alameda bungalow.

Single after breaking up with a long-term boyfriend a few years ago - have had a few dalliances but nothing has stuck so far.

I am so glad for this place and all of you. I have made some exceptional friends here, and am grateful. Tomorrow I am taking the train to Boston and having lunch with SJ (and TCG and LTC!) and VWBug (and Stitch and L!) and Jesse! I am so looking forward to this! And then I am taking my rental car and driving around New England to see pretty leaves and also knock two more states off of my 50 States list! After seeing Maine and Vermont, I only have Alaska left.

In November, Nora is coming to visit (and with bonus meara one night!) and Joanna and Sean are coming to stay with me again for Thanksgiving (Jo isn't a Buffista, but she's adjacent). And in December I am back in Philly where I will set aside time to see hippo again because I missssss her desperately and my Philly trips of late have left us with no time to see each other.

but hardly ever post because I am usually reading on iPhone or iPad and I cannot deal with how terrible the interface is for posting.

This...I feel like it didn't used to be so bad but somehow iOS10 screwed it up for me and now it's terrible to type in, and it sucks. Because mostly I'm on my phone or iPad. (But at the moment, on my laptop!) Looking forward to seeing Nanita AND bonus Nora! :)